Equalizer slide means



June 18, 1963 G. w. LUHRs 3,094,007

EQUALIZER SLIDE MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1961 United States Patent @tice 3,094,007 Patented June 18, 1963 Filed Nov. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 153,170 1 Claim. (Cl. 74-91) My invention relates to improvements in equalizer slide means employed in tables of the type in which the table top sections are separable to permit insertion of extra leaves in order to extend the size or the table top.

Equalizer slide means have been employed heretofore -i-n connection with separable table top sections, but in order to separate such sections it required two per sons to grasp opposite sections Iand draw the same apart. Frequently, in the course of such an operation because of high humidity conditions, the relatively slid-'mg rails and guide members supporting the table top sections would swell and stick with the result that the entire table would be shifted or moved from its position.

Accordingly, it is 1an object of my invention to provide crank means associ-ated with the equalizer slide means whereby `the table top sections may be `separated easily by a single individual merely operating the crank means.

Other land further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of an equalizer slide assembly in accordance with my invention, the same being shown in extended position.

FIG. 2 is fa similar v-iew but showing the equalizer slide assembly in normal closed or contracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view od? the equalizer slide assembly illustrated in FIG. l in extended position.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 but showing the operating Icrank handle -at a position 90 from that illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral indicates a ifragmentary portion of a frame member which extends longitudinally of the table frame and substantially medially thereof. llhe member 10 is shown `as being of tubular form but it is to be understood that it may be of any suitable conventional form. Supported on the member `10 and secured thereto as by bolts or screws r11 is an intermediate member y12. The opposite vertical faces of the member `12 are rabbetted to atford longitudinally extending grooves 13 as illustrated. Sliding rails 114 and l15 are arranged in confronting relation to the respective vertical sides of the member `12 and each of the rails is provided with a longitudinally extending complementary projection 13a 4arranged to be received within a respective Ygroove 13. The rails y114 and 115 are adapted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the member 12.

A portion of the upper surface of each of `the rails `14 and 15 is recessed to accommodate a section of a gear rack, `the racks being identified by the numerals 16 and `17, respectively. The racks 'are secured to the respective rails as by screws or other suitable fastening means. As will be apparent by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the teeth of the racks are directed inwardly towards each other and are `arranged to engage with .a pinion 418 vfixed on a shaft 1\9 passing through the members 10 Iand 12. The shaftr'19 projects below the member 10 and a crank arm 21 provided with a knob 2-2 is rigidly secured to the extension of shaft `19. =It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 19 by means of the crank arm 21 will elect rotation of the pinion 1=8 with a consequent relative longitudinal movement oi the rails 14 and l15.

It will be understood that the assembly hereinabove described is mounted on the frame member 10 so that the axis of pinion `18 coincides substantially with the midpoint of said frame member which corresponds to the median line at which the table top sections 23` and 24 illustrated by the broken lines will meet when .the sections are in normal clo-sed position `as illustrated in FIG. 2. The table top sections are of the oating type in that section 23 is suitably secured to rail 14 While the other section 24 is correspondingly secured to rail 15. As will be apparent the table top sections move `simultaneously with corresponding rails. Thus, merely by a single individual operating the crank arm 21 and rotating the same in one direction or another, the pinion 118 is correspondingly rotated and cooperates with the lgear racks 116 and 1-7 to move the table top sections 23 and 24 to the open position illustrated by the broken lines in rFlG. vl, or to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2. The crank arm `21 being mounted on the shaft 11 which is disposed substantially centrally of the table trame does not interfere with the seating of any individual at the table, since even in the position illustrated in the FIGS. 1 and 2 the arm 21 is -suiciently short to avoid being touched by the knees of any individual sitting in close proximity to the arm.

Vari-ous changes coming the spirit of my invention may suggest .themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, l do not wish to be limited to the speciiic embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend .the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination,

(a) an elongated stationary member, the opposite vertical sides each having a rabbet extending longitudinally thereof,

(b) a pair of rail members arranged in slideable abutment to `said stationary member one on each side thereof,

(c) eachl rail member yhaving a lonm'tudinally eX- tending projection received in a respective rabbet,

(d) a gear rack secu-red .to the upper surface of each rail member with the teeth of said racks disposed horizontally and in confronting relation to each other,

(e) la vertical shatt rotatably supported in said stationary member,

(f) la pinion iixed on said shaft and engaging at opposite sides with the gear racks on the respective rail members,

(g) and a crank arm connected to said shaft for ro- .tating said pinion to cause the rail members to move simultaneously in opposite directions.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,659 McKnight Aug. 1, 1871 992,066 Roberts May 9, 1911 1,128,808 Manoogian Feb. 16, 1915 1,173,646 Blue Feb. 29, 1916 1,307,808 Clark lune 24, 1919 y1,479,805 Gutridge Ian. 8, 1924 1,915,686 Mendenhall June 27, 1933 2,002,576 Holland et al May 28, 1935 2,566,800 Hutcherson Sept. 4, 1951 

